Grading and ditching machine.



W. HAY.

GRADING AND DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. s, 1908.

948,81 6 Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR W1 TNESSES ANDREW a GRANAM m. PMOTQUIHOGRAPHERS,WlSNlNG'YON. 0.

W. HAY.

GRADING AND DITOHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED D130. 5, 1908. I 948,81 6, Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VENT OR WITNESSES:

ANDREW a. GRAHAM co PHOTO-LITNOGRAFNER& wAsmNumN. 0.1:.

W. HAY. GRADING AND DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6; 1908.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

4 sHEnTssHnBT a.

R m N w m WITNESSES:

W. HAY. GRADING AND DITGHING MACHINE} APPLICATION FILED DEG. 5, 1908.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IN VENTOR rrnn STATES PATEN oicn WALTER HAY, OF SEVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR'10 THOMAS F. STROUD, 0F OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

GRADING AND DITCI-IING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER HAY, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Seville, in the county of Medina and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Grading and DitchingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of grading and ditching machines inwhich the soil is torn up by a plow and then carried by alongitudinally-disposed elevating conveyer to and delivered upon atransverse conveyer and then discharged therefrom at either side of themachine at the will of the operator. In machines of this character asheretofore constructed, it has been the practice to run the forward andlower end of the elevating conveyer-belt over a pulley or roller ofsmall diameter carried close to the ground in order to better coiiperatewith the plow in the performance of their respective functions. It is mybelief that this form of construction has a number of objectionablefeatures, a few of which are here mentioned: The necessity of carryingthe forward end of the belt close to the ground renders the belt andespecially its supporting frame and the latters supporting connectionsliable to serious injury in the event of an obstruction, such as a stumpor stone, being encountered; it being almost impossible to prevent aportion of the soil from getting between the leaves of this belt, theinclined position of same causes such soil to collect at the lower endthereof where it frequently interferes with the proper running of thebelt over the roller; and the running of this belt, which is necessarilystrong and three or more ply in thickness and under considerabletension, over a roller of small diameter causes rapid wear of thetexture of the belt and requires more power in its operation than were alarger roller or pulley adaptable.

A number of machines of the class above referred to have been designedto plow up the soil on either side of the machine, but not bet-ween thesides thereof; others have been designed to plow up the soil between.the sides of the machine, but, not outside the wheels thereof. It isobvious that with any grading and ditching machine not designed oradapted to plow up the soil at any point between the sides and betweenthe wheels as well as outside the wheels thereof, it would Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed December 5, 1908.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 466,162.

be impossible to construct a ditch having width but little greater thanthat of the body of the machine including the wheels.

Objects of my invention are to provide a grading and ditching machinehaving provisions for plowing up the soil on either side thereof andoutside of the outer lines of the wheels and also at any point betweensaid lines, and for discharging the soil from either side of themachine, whereby the machine can be worked in either direction along oneand the same side of the road or out upon which it is being operated,and whereby it is adapted to construct a ditch or the like in which thespace between the sides need only be suflicient to receive the body ofthe machine and provide a few inches clearance for the free travel ofthe wheels; that is to say, if the body of the machine wereseven-andone-half feet wide, a ditch as narrow as eight feet can beconstructed; to provide an elevating conveyer having at its forward enda belt pulley of such diameter as will enable it to safely roll overobstacles which would be apt to cause damage to the elevating conveyerof any machine of this character as heretofore constructed; to provide agrading and ditching machine in which the plows are carried by the sameframe that supports the elevating conveyer, whereby the said plows andconveyor can be shifted laterally in either direction and raised andlowered as a unit; to minimize leakage of soil between the plows andelevating conveyer; to avoid breakage of parts and injury to theelevating conveyer when either of the plows encounters an obstruction;and to place all controlling devices within easy reach of one operatoror attendant stationed at the most advantageous point.

Other meritorious features of the invention and details of constructionwill be fully understood from the following description in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a gradingand ditching machine embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the same, with the upper portion of the elevatingconveyer-belt removed for clearness of illustration. Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken transversely through a portion of the elevator on the line 00, m,Fig. 1. Fig. l is a plan of the inner side, and Fig. 5 a plan of theouter side of the elevating conveyer-belt, both views showing a portiononly of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail referred to hereinafter. Fig. 7shows the arrangement of the chain employed to drive the transverseconveyer. Figs. 8 and 9 are details relating to the plows.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises a wheel-supported body-framecomposed of two longitudinally-arranged side beams 10 and 11, joined bythe transverselyarranged end beams 12 and 13, 14 and 15,

. and the round bar or fixed shaft 16 near the center. Said body-frameis provided at its forward end with a drivers seat 17 and at its rearend with a platform 18 for the operator. Formed in the said side beams,or preferably in plates secured thereto, are curved slots 19, the topand bottom of which describe arcs from the center C. Extending from sideto side and supported by means of said grooves and adapted to rolltherein, is a round bar or shaft 20, loosely mounted on which is asleeve-like hanger 21, and fixed to each end thereof is adownwardly-extending arm 22.

Rigidly secured to the hanger-arms 22 is the elevator frame, whichcomprises two longitudinallyarranged side beams 23, joined bytransverselyarranged end beams 24 and 25, and also by means of theaforesaid hanger. lVhen in its working position, as shown in Fig. 1, theforward portion of the elevator frame is supported by means of theflanged belt-pulley or drum 26, the downwardly-extending arms, in pairs,27, and the rotary axle or shaft 28 passed through and secured to thehubs of the said drum and extending through journal-boxes fast to thelower ends of the double arms 27, which latter, be it understood, arefixed at their upper ends to the side beams 23.

The four flanged-wheels 29 are secured in pairs to the shafts 30 whichpass through journal-boxes 31 secured on the side beams 23. Mounted onthe said flanged-wheels and adapted to rotate thereon is the elevator,which comprises a pair of annular disks 32 secured to which are theangle-bar tires 33 serving also as flanges to guide the elevatingconveyer-belt B. Secured between the disks and tires are rings 34, Fig.3, which, in cooperation with the disks, provide a sufficientbearing-surface for the peculiarly constructed belt B. Connecting thedisks and firmly secured thereto are a number of rectangular plates or,as I prefer to call them, lifting blades 35 which may be secured to thedisks in various ways, but preferably by means of anglebars 36 havingthe outlying portion of the inwardlyprojecting leg beveled as shown, thepurpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

A supporting frame comprising parallel bars 37 is positioned beneath theinclined portion of the lower leaf of belt B, and the upper portion ofsaid bars is concentric with the elevator disks. The journal-boxes 38,secured to the bars 37 of the said frame, support and permit rotationtherein of the shafts 39 (Fig. 3) secured to the outer ends of which areidler-pulleys 40 which support the belt B, direct its course of travelcoincident with the periphery of elevator and between the aforesaidtires 33, which also serve as flanges for the guidance of the belt asbefore stated. The parallel bars 37 are rigidly secured to the elevatorframe by means of the suspended cross-bar 41 (Fig. 1), the bar 42direct-connected to the elevator frame side beams, and a pair ofstanchions 43 secured at their lower ends to the end beam 25.

The endless elevating conveyer-belt B, as at present constructed,comprises a flexible body 44 (Fig. 3) to which is secured on its innerside, a series of fiat metallic bars 45 (Fig. 4) extending the fullwidth of the belt, and on its outer side, the narrow reinforcing belts46 (Fig. 5) and a series of flat metallic bars 47 extending across thespace between the said reinforcing belts, the bars 47 and belts 46 beingsubstantially of the same thickness. These reinforcing belts serve thedouble purpose of affording additional protection to the edges of thebody'44, and an unbroken bearing-surface along the sides of thecomposite belt where supported by the idler-pulleys 40. The bars 47 aresecured to that side of the belt-body which comes in contact with theground, and serve the double purpose of prolonging the life of thecomposite belt and of preventing the same from slipping over the ground,the object of which will be made apparent hereinafter. The bars 45 onthe inner side of the belt-body serve the treble purpose of supportingthat portion of the said beltbody extending across the space between theelevator disks 32, of providing in effect, iron-clad edges for thebelt-body to sustain the wear resulting from the contact of such edgeswith the flanges of the elevator and the drum 26 and certain guidingmeans interposed thereinbetween, and of aiding in the conveyance of thesoil up the inclined portion of the said conveyer-belt.

Referring to the plows, the vertically-arranged rectangular bar 48 (seealso Fig. 8), adapted to slide up and down in the brackets 49 secured tothe elevator frame side beams 23, is provided near its lower extremitywith a stud-bolt 50 which pivotally secures the said bar 48 to theplow-beam 51 to which is firmly secured at its rear end anoutwardlyprojecting hollow stubbed axle 52 (Fig. 9) closely fitted into,and permitting (under certain conditions) of rotation thereon, thesocket-headed plow-standard 53 which is held against lateraldisplacement by the bolt 54 and prevented from freely rotating on theaxle 52 by the pin 55 passed through the walls of both standard 53 andaxle 52 and which is sufiiciently strong to withstand all ordinarystrains resulting from the action of the plow, but in the event of theplow encountering an impassable barrier, said pin will be sheared andthe plow permitted to rotate on the axle and then drag over the grounduntil the machine is stopped, thus preventing damage to other parts ofthe machine. The socket 56, adapted to rotate or rock on the shaft 57and in the journal-box 58 secured to the side beam 23, is formed with aslot 59 through which passes the guide-bar 60 which is provided at itsrear end with an aperture through which is passed the bolt 54, thefunctions of which are to provide a pivotal connection between the saidguide-bar 60 and plow-beam 51 and in effect to draw the two closelytogether to prevent lateral movements of the plow. The said bolt 54 isthreaded on its outer end and is screwed into the plow-standard 53,drawing the same against the shoulder of the axle 52 which, as beforestated, is firmly secured to the plow-beam 51 and virtually a partthereof. The bolt 54 is prevented from turning by a check-nut 61. Itwill be observed that the guide-bar 60 does not actually contact withthe plow-beam 51, but is separated therefrom by the washer 62 which,being thicker than the wall 56 of the socket 56, permits the saidplow-beam to pass by the said socket (see Fig. 2) when the former. israised and lowered.

The chains or ropes 63 and 64 are attached to the front and rear endsrespectively of the plow-beam 51, and running over sheaves 65 and 66 arecontinued back and connected to the vertical winding-shafts 67 and 68which, being provided with suitable hand-wheels or other turning meansand the usual ratchet and pawl (not shown) and by means of the foregoingarrangement, control the elevation and angle of penetration of the plow.

The right and left hand plows A are suitably secured to theplow-standards 53 and, in the present construction, their mold-boardsare provided with an extension 69, that portion of which forward of theline 69 (Fig. 1) forms practically a continuation of the moldboard andserves to force the soil over to and upon the belt B; that portion tothe rear of line 69 is positioned close to and parallel with the belt Band serves to confine the soil to the belt at that point, and as anintermediate guide for the said belt.

Loosely mounted on the round bar or shaft 16 is a sleeve 70, firmlysecured to both ends of which is a shrouded-pinion 71 in engagement witha gear-toothed standard 72 rigidly secured to the side beams 23 of theelevator frame. Secured to the standards 72 for the purpose of holdingsame in engagement with the pinions 71 is a curved guidebar 73 (Fig. l),the inner surface of which, in contact with the shaft 16, describes anare from the center C and is concentric with the pitch line ofgear-teeth on the standard.

The forward portion of the elevator frame and all devices connectedtherewith are raised and lowered by means of the crank 74 (Fig. 1) fastto the rod 75 keyed to the worm 76 meshing with worm-gear 77 keyed tothe winding-shaft 78 extending transversely across the machine andthrough a journal-box 79 located at each side of the machine andsupported by a standard 80 fast to each side beam of the body-frame;connected to the winding-shaft 78 and suspended therefrom at each sideof the machine is a chain or rope 81; these two chains are attached attheir lower extremities to the upturned ends of a flat bar 82 of suchlength that when raised it will pass between and be guided by theaforesaid standards; the U- shaped hanger 83, secured at its lower endto a pivot-pin passed loosely through an eyebolt 84 at each side of thehanger and fast to the front end of elevator frame, is provided at itsupper end with a fixed axle-pin passed through both sides of the hanger,and loosely mounted thereon is a roller 85 adapted to roll on thesuspended bar 82.

The sleeve-like hanger 21 (Fig. 2) is con structed, at a pointintermediate its ends,with a circumferential groove in which is looselyfitted a split collar 86, the upper part of which is constructed with aslot (Fig. 6) through which is passed a bar 87 formed at one end with ahead 88 through which is a threaded aperture adapted to receive a rotary screw-rod 89 which extends across the machine parallel with theshaft 20 (Fig. 2) and is j ournaled in boxes secured to the side beams10 and 11 of the body-frame; one end of the screw-rod 89 extends beyondthe side of the body-frame and is provided with a pair ofsprocket-wheels 90 and 91 which are fixed to said screw-rod.

The sleeve 70 is constructed, at a suitable point between the pinions,with a circumferential groovev in which is loosely fitted a collar-arm92, the collar end (groove-fitted end) of which is split for assembling(similar to collar 86) and the opposite end is provided with a threadedaperture adapted to receive a rotary screw-rod 93 which extends acrossthe machine parallel with the round bar 16 and is journaled in the sidebeams of the body-frame and provided at one end with a fixedsprocket-wheel 94 positioned in line with the afore-mentionedsprocket-wheel 91.

The shaft 95, provided at its outer end with a fixed sprocket-wheel 96and at its in ner end with a fixed crank 97, is journaled in a box 98supported at a convenient height above the operators platform by a post99 which is fast at its lower end to the bodyframe; the sprocket-wheels9G and 90 are connected by an endless chain or link-belt 100, and thesprocket-wheels 91 and 94: are similarly connected by a chain 101; henceit will be seen that the screw-rods 89 and 93 are in operativeconnection with the crank 97.

Extending through the cent 'al, circular opei'iing of the elevator andconcentric with and in close proximity to the annular disk 32 is acurved shield-plate 102 formed at its upper end with adownwardly-inclined lip 103 and supported at its lower end by thebefore-mentioned screw-rod 89 which is passed through apertured blocks104: and 105 (Fig. 3) which are fastto the said shield-plate; the block105 is threaded to fit the threaded portion of the said screw-rod, thepurpose of which will be better understood later. The sides of the saidshieldplate project for a short distance beyond or outside the disks 32and are stiffened by angle-bars 100, which also serve to prevent leakageof soil between the shield-plate and the disks. Secured to the upper endof the shield-plate and at each side thereof is an upwardlyandrearwardly-projecting arm 107 (Fig. 1) provided at its upper end with astud-axle on which is loosely mounted a small roller-wheel 108 adaptedto roll on an annular bar 109 fast to the outside of each of the disks32 and flush with the inner periphery thereof (also see Fig. 3), thepurpose of such arrangement being to support the upper portion of theshield-plate against pressure of the soil and avoid excessive frictionin so doing.

The transverse conveyer comprises a suitably constructed frame of whichthe side bars 110 (Fig. 2) are shown mounted on four flanged-rollers 111arranged in pairs on each side of the machine and adapted to rotate onstud-axles projecting horizontally from the upper ends of the standards112 secured to the body-frame; an endless conveyer-belt 113 is adaptedto run over the end pulleys 114k secured to the shafts 115 which arejournaled in boxes 116, secured to the side bars 110, and provided atone end with a fixed sprocket-wheel 117; it should be understood thatboth the upper and lower leaves of the conveyer-belt- 113 are supportedby the usual idler-rollers (not shown) located at suitable pointsbetween the end pulleys 11 1; and that suitable means are provided formoving the said conveyor cndwise in either direction, and for lockingthe same in any desired position; and that when desired, the standards112 can be constructed to slide vertically in brackets fixed to thebody-frame, and ar ranged in connection with suitable raising andlowering means whereby the said conveyer is adapted to be adjustedvertically and, when so desired, to be tilted to make either of its endsthe uppermost end. Said conveyer is driven by an endless chain orlinlcbelt 118 (Fig. 7) Which travels over idler-wheels 119 adapted torotate on studaxlcs secured to a frame 120 fixed to and rising above thebody-frame; said chain 118 is driven by a sprocket-wheel 121 and held inengagement therewith by smooth-faced wheels 122 disposed on oppositesides of the sprocketwheel as shown; said sprocketwheel 121 is securedto the front end of a longitudinally-disposed shaft 123 (Fig. 1) whichis journaled in a long box 124: fixed centrally on the elevatedcross-piece of the frame 120; fixed to the rear end of the shaft 123 isa bevel pinion 125 meshing with a bevel gear 126 fixed to the upper endof a vertical shaft 127 which is supported near its ends by ournal-boxesand provided at its lower end with a fixed bevel pinion 128 meshing withthe bevel gears 129 (also see Fig. 7) loosely mounted on the rear axle130 which is secured to the driving wheels 131 in any suitable manner,but preferably by means of the usual ratchet devices. A jaw-clutch 132is adapted to slide on a feather-key 133, fixed to the rear axle 130,and engage either of the jaw-provided bevel gears 129 which are thuslocked to the said rear axle. A hand lever 134: (Fig. 1), within easyreach of the operator, is e1 ployed to move the aforesaid jaw clutchfrom one bevel gear to the other, and so reverse the motion of the powertransmitting clevices thus arranged and cause the conveyer belt 113 totravel in either direction, so as to discharge the soil from either sideof the machine.

It will be understood that the machine is provided with suitable draftconnections at its forward end, whereby it may be drawn either by animalor mechanical power; and that the drum 26 can be adjustably connected tothe elevator frame, whereby the distance between the drum and theelevator may be varied to suit the practical requirements of the belt B,which is adapted to travel over both drum and elevator, as shown; andthat the bars 37 can be provided at their forward ends, in front of thefirst pair of idlerpulleys, with a transversely-arranged scraper todislodge any soil adhering to the bottom of the belt B. For simplicityand clearness of illust 'ation, the foregoing and other features ofarrangement and many details of construction are not shown.

In the practical operation of the machine, the forward portion of theelevator frame and its appurtenances are permitted to ride on theground, through the medium of the drum 20 (see Fig. 1), and the chains81 are then given sufficient slackness to allow free up-and-downmovements of said drum, caused by natural unevenness of the groundtraveled over. As the machine advances, the

drum 26 is caused to roll on the lower leaf of the endless conveyor-beltB which, by virtue of its coherence to the ground (augmented by the bars47 hereinbefore described) under the frame-weighted drum, is caused totravel over both the drum and the elevator which latter will obviouslybe r0- tated thereby. It will be understood that that portion of thelower leaf of the belt extending from the vertical center line of thedrum rearwardly to that point where it begins to curve upwardly, willlie temporarily motionless on the ground, and hence be advantageouslyadapted to receive the soil from either of the plows adjacent thereto.It will be seen that as the machine advances, the portion of the lowerleaf of the belt extending rearwardly of the plows will be picked up bythe idler-pulleys 40 which are arranged to give to said belt thepreferred inclination and the requisite support, which latter isprovided over a distance extending well up 011 the rear end of theelevator to a point where the tension in the belt renders furthersupport of the kind unnecessary.

By reason of the before-described arrangement employed to connect theelevator frame to the body-frame, it will be understood that the formerand all parts carried thereby are adapted to move in a vertical plane asif said elevator frame were pivoted to the bodyframe at the center 0,which center is also the axis of rotation of the elevator. From this itwill be seen that as the forward portion of the elevator frame rises andfalls, the distance between the elevator and the drum 26, the tension inthe belt B, and its position in relation to the elevator frame, and theposition of the plows in relation to the said belt and drum will allremain unchanged. It will also be understood that through theinstrumentality of the oppositely-disposed standards 72 enmeshed withthe equalizing pinions 71, the forward portion of the elevator frame andits appurtenances will be adapted to rise and fall evenlythat is to say,the drum axle 28 will be maintained parallel with the round bar 16, andsubstantially so with the axis of rotation of the elevator, due to thesaid equalizing pinions not permitting the standards 72 and the sidebeams 23 aflixed thereto to move upwardly or downwardly one ahead of theother. From this it is obvious that notwithstanding the unevenness ofthe ground traveled over and the down ward pull of the working plow, theflanges of the drum 26 and those of the elevator will be maintained inalinement and there by insure the proper travel of the conveyerbelt B.

During the advancement of the machine with the drum 26 and theconveyer-belt B lowered to their respective working positions, the plowselected for the work to be performed is lowered by means of its pair ofwinding-shafts 67 and 68 until the desired depth of cut is attained. Itwill be seen that when the plow is secured in such adjustment, the drum26 will also serve the purpose of a caster-wheel for said plow andautomatically govern its depth of cut relatively to the surface of theground over which the machine is traveling. The plowed-up soil isdeposited upon the lower leaf of the belt B and is confined theretoduring its conveyance to the elevator by the mold-board extension 69 andthe side plates 135, which latter are suitably secured, one at each sideof the belt, to the elevator frame. The front ends of said side platesare adapted to bear lightly against the mold-board extensions, and areformed with a beveled edge to facilitate the passage of the soil; therear ends are eoncaved concentric with the periphery of the elevatordisks 32 and positioned in close proximity thereto and in linetherewith. The soil as delivered from the plow in a continuous body ormass upon reaching the elevator, is confined between its disks 32 andaided in its elevation by the beforedescribed lifting blades 35 and theangle-bars 36, which latter have their inwardly-projecting leg beveledto more easily penetrate the soil. It will be seen that were the saidlifting blades not provided, the soil when at a certain elevation wouldhave the tendency to gravitate and roll downward upon the advancing bodyof such soil. But, with the present and preferred construction the soilis elevated positively, and when at a certain height it will fallagainst the shield plate 102 and be forced by the lifting bladesupwardly and over the top of said shieldplate from which point it willfall upon the transversely-arranged conveyer-belt 113 and be dischargedtherefrom at either side of the machine.

The fixed round bar or shaft 16 is adapted to sustain the longitudinalthrust of the elevator frame arising from the operation of the plows andthe conveyer-belt B, such thrust being transmitted to the bar 16 throughthe medium of the standards 72 and the equalizing pinions T1, the lattersustaining the pressure of the former. The lateral thrust transmitted tothe forward portion of the elevator frame by the action of one or theother of the plows is sustained by the screw-rod 93 (Fig. 2) which issecured against endwise movement by set-collars positioned in contactwith the side beams of the body-frame; the arrangement adapting saidscrewrod for the purpose just mentioned comprises the aforesaidstandards 72, the teeth of which are fitted between the shrouds of thepinions 71, and the sleeve which is fixed to the pinions and locked tothe threaded portion of said screw-rod by means of thehereinbefore-described collararm 92.

Any lateral thrust transmitted to the rear portion of the elevator frameis similarly sustained by the screw-rod 89 through thehereinbefore-described arrangement whereby the sleeve-like hanger 21,fixed to said elevator frame, is locked to the threaded portion of thesaid screw-rod by means of the bar 87, which latter is adapted to slidein the before-described collar 86 in order to permit the supportingshaft 20 to move farther from or nearer to the said screw-rod as theforward portion of the elevator frame is raised or lowered.

From the foregoing and with the understanding that the pitch of thethreads of both screw-rods are the same, and that the chain-connectedsprocket-wheels fixed thereto are duplicates, it will be seen that theelevator frame can readily be adjusted with its side beams parallel withthe side beams of the body-frame and that thereafter such adjustmentwill be maintained. It will also be seen that when the forward portionof the elevator frame is raised so that the drum 26 and theconveyer-belt B will clear the ground, the operator by turning the crank97 is enabled to shift said elevator frame and all parts carried therebyto either side of the machine, and to any point or position between suchsides, as may be desired. The rear portion of the elevator frame,through its hanger 21, is adapted to slide on the supporting shaft 20,while the front end is adapted to ride on the suspended bar 82 throughthe medium of the roller-wheel S5 and its associated supportingarrangement. It will be understood that by means of theinternally-threaded block 105 (Fig. 3) which is fast to the curvedshield-plate 102 and fitted to the threaded portion of the screw-rod 89,the said shield-plate will be shifted along with the elevator frame, andits position relatively to the elevator will remain unchanged.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and relativearrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferredembodiment of my invention, it will be seen that I provide a novel andpractical grading and ditching machine adapted for operation in eitherdirection of its travel and along either side of a road or out uponwhich it is being operated; and that the machine is adapted to plow upthe soil on either side thereof and outside of the outer lines of thewheels as well as at any point between the outermost furrows; and alsothat the soil can be discharged from either side of the machine at thewill of the operator.

WVith reference to its operation in constructing a ditch having Widthbut little greater than that of the body of the machine, it will be seenby referring to Fig. 2 that one of the plows is positioned to removethat portion of the soil lying along the dotted center line D, which maybe considered to represent the longitudinal center line of the ditch,while the other plow is positioned to cut outside of the wheels andremove that portion of the soil lying along the dotted line F, which maybe considered to represent the far side of the ditch, and that by meansof the shifting mechanism hereinbefore described, the plow firstlymentioned is adapted (by successive shifts) to remove that portion ofthe soil lying between the lines D and E (which latter line may beconsidered to represent the near side of the ditch) similarly as itscompanion plowmay be imagined to have removed the soil lying between thelines D and F in this way the soil would be removed at all pointsbetween the lines E and F were the machine to be operated in the onedirection only, it being apparent that when the machine is operated inboth directions the shifting of the plows would vary somewhat and. thatthe same result would be accomplished in considerably less time.

It will readily be seen from the drawings that the elevating conveyer isprovided at its forward end with a belt-pulley or drum sufficientlylarge to safely roll over and crush lumps of soil and thus act as a landroller to prepare a smooth path for the elevating conveyer-belt; andthat by virtue of the arrangement associating the plows with the sameframe that carries the elevating conveyer-belt, the plows are adapted toproperly cooperate with said belt in the performance of their respectivefunctions through the simple lowering of one or the other to its workingposition beside the belt; it being understood from this, that in generalpractice, when one plow is working, the other is raised clear of theground; and that no lateral adjustment of the plows and the beltrelatively to each other is necessary; and also that when the forwardportion of the elevator frame is to be raised for any purposeforinstance, to permit turning of the machine-the plows will be raisedsimultaneously therewith by the turning of a single crank.

Instead of using plows as illustrated and described, any otherequivalent device or implement may be employed.

\Vithout limiting myself to the construction shown and described, Iclaim as my invention:--

1. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with anendless conveyer-belt, a plow or implement adapted to penetrate andloosen the soil and to deliver same upon the lower leaf of saidconveyerbelt.

2. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with anendless conveyer-belt, a plurality of plows or implements adapted topenetrate and loosen the soil and to deliver same upon the lower leaf ofsaid conveyer-belt.

3. A. machine of the class described comprising in combination with alongitudinally-disposed endless conveyer-belt, means for penetrating andloosening the soil and delivering same upon the lower leaf of saidconveyer-belt, a transversely-arranged conveyer passed between theleaves of and adapted to receive the soil from said conveyer-belt, meansfor imparting motion to said conveyer-belt, and means for impartingmotion in either direction to said conveyer to effect a discharge of thesoil from either end thereof.

42. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with awheel-supported body-frame, an endless conveyer-belt disposedlongitudinally between the sides of said body-frame and adapted toderive motion from its contact with the ground during the progression ofthe machine, means for penetrating and loosening the soil and deliveringsame upon the lower leaf of said conveyer-belt, and suitableinstrumentalities for receiving the soil from said conveyer-belt anddischarging the same from either side of the machine.

5. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with awheel-supported body-frame, a belt-pulley or drum vertically-adjustablerelatively to said bodyframe and adapted to be rotated by contact orengagement of its flanges or outlying portions with the ground duringthe progression of the machine, an endless conveyer-belt adapted totravel over and derive motion from said belt-pulley or drum, means forpenetrating and loosening the soil and delivering same upon the lowerleaf of said conveyer-belt, suitable instrumentalities for receiving thesoil from said conveyer-belt and discharging the same from either sideof the machine, and means for putting said belt-pulley or drum into orout of contact with the ground.

6. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with awheel-supported body-frame, a vertically-movable supplemental framearranged between the sides of and in operative connection with thebody-frame, an endless conveyer-belt carried by the supplemental frame,a verticallymovable plow or implement arranged at one side of theconveyer-belt and adapted to penetrate and loosen the soil and todeliver same upon the lower leaf of the conveyerbelt, suitableinstrumentalities for receiving the soil from the conveyer-belt anddischarging the same from either side of the ma chine, means forimparting motion to the conveyer-belt, means for raising and loweringsaid plow or implement relatively to the supplemental frame, and meansfor raising and lowering said supplemental frame.

7. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with awheel-supported body-frame, an endless conveyer-belt disposedlongitudinally between the sides of the body-frame, a vertically-movableplow or implement arranged at each side of the conveyer-belt, said plowsor implements being adapted to penetrate and loosen the soil and todeliver same upon the lower leaf of the conveyer-belt, suitableinstrumentalities for receiving the soil from the conveyer-belt anddischarging the same from either side of the machine, means forimparting motion to the conveyer-belt, means for raising and loweringthe plows or implements independently of each other and of'theconveyerbclt, and means for raising and lowering the conveyer-belt.

8. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with awheel-supported body-frame, a. supplemental frame disposedlongitudinally between the sides of and arranged to swing vertically onthe body-frame, an endless conveyer-belt carried by the supplementalframe and caused t-o'travel or work during the progression of themachine by being brought into contact or engagement with the ground, avertically movable plow or implement adjacent each side of theconveyer-belt and adapted to penetrate and loosen the soil and todeliver same upon the lower leaf of said conveyerbelt, devices servingas mediums of connec tion between the plows or implements and thesupplemental frame, a transversely-ar ranged conveyer passed between theleaves of the conveyer-belt and adapted to receive the soil from saidconveyer-belt and to discharge the same from either side of the machine,means for raising and lowering the plows or implements independently ofeach other and of the conveyer-belt, and means for lowering and raisingthe supplemental frame and hence putting said conveyer-belt into and outof contact or engagement with the ground.

9. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with awheel-supported body-frame, means for penetrating and loosening the soilalong a line outside the wheels at either side of the machine as well asany where between such line and a corresponding line at the oppositeside of the machine, means for receiving and elevating the loosenedsoil, and means for discharging such soil from either side of themachine.

10. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with asuitable bodyframe, a laterally-adjustable endless conveyer-belt, meansfor penetrating and loosening the soil and delivering same upon thelower leaf of the conveymr-belt, means for driving the conveyer-belt,and means for shifting said conveyer-belt laterally in either directionrelatively to said body-frame.

11. A machine of the class described com prising in combination with asuitable bodyframe, a verticallyand laterally-adjustable endlessconveyer-belt, means for penetrat ing and loosening the soil anddelivering same upon the lower leaf of the conveyorbelt, means fordriving the conveyer-belt, means for raising and lowering theconveyor-belt relatively to the body-frame, and means for shifting saidconveyer-belt laterally in either direction relatively to saidbody-frame.

12. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with asuitable body frame, a vertically-adjustable drum or beltpulley adaptedto be rotated during the progression of the machine by contactor'engagementof its flanges or outlying portions with the ground, anendless conveyer-belt adapted to travel over said drum, to contact withthe ground and to be driven during the progression of the machine by itscontact with both the ground and said drum, means for plowing up orloosening the soil and delivering same upon the lower leaf of saidconveyer-belt, and means for lowering and raising said drum andconveyer-belt into and out of contact with the ground.

13. A machine of the class described comprising in combina tion with awheel-supported main frame, means for plowing up or loosening the soilany where between a line outside the wheels at one side of the machineand a line half-way or about half-way between the sides of the machine,and suitable instrumentalities for receiving and elevating the plowed-upsoil and discharging the same from either side of the machine.

14. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with awheeled bodyframe, a pair of plows or implements having a fixed distanceapart and adapted to be moved laterally relatively to the body frame, asoil-conveyor interposed between the plows and adapted to be movedlaterally therewith and to receive the soil from either of said plows orfrom botl at the same time, and means for putting either or both of saidplows out of action.

15. A machine of the class described comprising in combination wit-h amain frame, a soil-conveyor frame disposed longitudinally between thesides of and arranged to swing vertically on the main frame, a pluralityof pinions fixed relatively to each other and connected to one of saidframes, and a plurality of toothed standards or racks enmeshed with saidpinions and connected to the other of said frames, for the purposedescribed.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame,means associated with said frame for attaching and guiding averticallyadjustable plow or equivalent implement, and comprising a bar(48) connected to said frame and arranged for up -anddown adjustment, aplow-beam (51) pivotally-connected at its forward end to said bar, aguide-bar (60) pivotally-connected to the rear portion of the plow-beam,and a journaled socket or socket-piece (56) carried by said frame andformed with a slot through which the said guide-bar is adapted to slide.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, aplow or equivalent implement, devices serving as mediums of connectionbetween said frame and the plow, and comprising a suitable plmv-beam, abearing-piece or stubbed axle 52) fast to said plow-beam, aplow-standard (53) formed with a socket at its upper end and looselymounted on said bearing-piece, and a pin locking said plow-standard tosaid bearing-piece, but adapted to be sheared when the plow encountersan impassable barrier.

18. In a machine of the class described, an endless conveyer-belt, arotary elevator cooperating with said conveyer-belt to elevate the soil,said elevator comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed annular flangeddisks (39), a plurality of blades or plates (35) interposed between andfastened to said disks, and suitable means adjacent the inner peripheryof said annular disks for confining the soil to its proper channelwithin the elevator until the preferred point of discharge therefrom isreached.

19. I11 a machine of the class described, a soil-conveying belt adaptedto travel over the before-described elevator, and comprising a pliablebody (44-), a plurality of transversely-arranged bars l-.5) extendingthe full width and fast to one side of said body, while fast to thereverse side of said body and disposed along its longitudinal edges area pair of belts (4:6) and a plurality of transversely-arranged bars (47)extending across the space between said pair of belts.

20. In a machine of the class described, a main frame, alaterally-movable supplemental frame disposed longitudinally between thesides of the main frame, a soilconveying belt carried by saidsupplemental frame, a plurality of rotary screw-rods extending from sideto side of and carried by the main frame, and means connected to saidsupplemental frame and in engagement with said screw-rods whereby saidsupplemental frame is shifted laterally as the said screwrods arerotated.

21. A machine of the class described comprising in combination with awheel-supported main frame, a supplemental frame disposed longitudinallybetween the sides of and arranged to swing vertically on the main frame,a belt-pulley or drum carried by the supplemental frame at its forwardend, a rotary elevator carried by the supplemental frame near its rearend, an endless soil-conveying belt adapted to travel over both drum andelevator, means for vertically swinging the supplemental frame, andmeans for maintaining said drum and elevator the same distance apart asthe said supplemental frame is swung into its various positions.

22. In a machine of the class described, a wheel-supported main frame, averticallyand laterally-movable supplemental frame disposedlongitudinally between the sides of and connected to the main frame, abeltpulley or drum carried by the forward portion of the supplementalframe, a rotary annular elevator mounted on a plurality of wheelscarried by the rear portion of the supplemental frame, an endlessconveyerbelt arranged to travel over said drum and elevator and adaptedthrough the cooperation of said drum to be driven during the progressionof the machine by the contact or engagement of either or bothconveyer-belt and drum with the ground, said conveyerbelt also beingadapted to cause rotation of said elevator .and to cooperate therewithin A the elevation of the soil, means connected to the supplementalframe for penetrating and loosening the soil and delivering same uponthe lower leaf of said conveyer-belt, a transversely-arranged conveyerpassed through said elevator and adapted to receive the soil therefromand to discharge the same from either side of the machine, means forputting said conveyer-belt into and out of engagement with the ground,and means for shifting as a unit the soil-loosening means and saidconveyer-belt laterally relatively to the main frame to effect a removalof the soil any where between two lines disposed one at each side of themachine outside and beyond the wheels thereof, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WALTER HAY.

Witnesses:

J 0. K. MINToN, HOWARD H. WEAVER.

